The formula is supposed to provide a “beautiful bare skin effect” with a “skin-glowing finish.” It’s a product that is best for light-medium or fairer complexions, as I really had to layer it several times to even get any visible color to show up in photographs on my medium complexion. The texture is very soft and velvety, but it was somewhat powdery–almost chalky at times–yet not dry or really difficult to work with, but it was dense and powdery. It was contradictory, as it felt lovely in one sense but yet had that powdery, chalky feel as well. On drier skin, I think it will actually look powdery if applied with more than a sheer layer. It looked almost matte applied to the skin; it was surprisingly less luminous/glowy than described or even when you look at it when swatched. It kind of delivers on its promise, but it seems to fall a little short–it’s really not bringing out the natural luminosity of bare skin. On me, it wore well for seven hours but had completely faded after eight and a half hours (nothing was left). To be clear, the color payoff is in line with the description, but I think it lacks the right finish/texture to give it that “skin-glowing finish,” and instead looked more powdery than anything.

MAC Mineralize Glass ($22.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a new–and permanent!–lip gloss from MAC that heads to counters on March 6th but can be purchased online now. There are twelve shades in total, and this post features four that I tested. The formula is supposed to be hydrating and glossy, while there’s no real word on coverage, the shades are described as “pearlescent.” They feel like lighter-weight Lipglass with less tackiness, but they’re more of a medium-weight gloss with a moderately tacky texture that’s lightly hydrating and wears between two and four hours (depending on the shade). The applicator is a rounded rectangle and feels smoother than the typical doe foot, and it also has more give and flex, so it seems to apply the gloss more evenly. The color coverage seems to run semi-sheer; noticeable color but not fully opaque. I’m not keen on the packaging, as it is bulky and doesn’t store efficiently.

For spring, Maybelline released six limited edition shades (so says the display) of Color Tattoos in its Dare to Go Nude Collection. I’ve been trying to find these for a few weeks now, and by some miracle, I was able to find five of the shades. Unfortunately, I don’t have Stroke of Midnight (but you can see it swatched on Musings of a Muse for reference). Most of the stores I’ve visited haven’t even had displayers (empty or not), but a CVS about ten miles away did have a display that was only partially ravaged (many of the seals on lip products had been removed). It’s a real shame that these aren’t permanent, because they would be welcomed additions to the permanent range. Though in some ways, they might seem “boring” to some, they’re very core, basic shades. They reminded me a lot of Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow range in color selection as well as feel and finish–these all felt a little thinner than the original formula, a smidgen more emollient, but they applied and wore as well as the original shades do. As always, I’m not keen on actually wearing makeup for 24-hours, so I didn’t test any of these for a full 24-hours, but I tested all five for sixteen hours.

These are LIMITED EDITION as confirmed by Maybelline on March 4th, 2014. Maybelline corporate confirmed that all shades released in the Dare to Go Nude Collection are limited edition with none slated to be added to the permanent range at this time.

MAC Lovingly Yours Mineralize Glass ($22.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “pinkish nude.” It’s a rosy, meidum peach with warm undertones and subtle gold shimmer. It lightened and warmed-up my natural lip color, but the natural lip color will strongly influence the way this appears on someone, because it is a sheer gloss. It lasted two and a half hours on me. MAC has put out a lot of shades that look very similar to this, and so have other brands — see comparison swatches.

MAC Modest Mineralize Glass ($22.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is described as a “soft beige.” It’s a light-medium, peachy orange with a sprinkle of goldenrod shimmer. It had semi-sheer pigmentation applied to lips, but being such a pale shade, it did noticeably settle into lip lines. It wore well for almost three hours when I tested it. This is another shade that MAC loves to release often (with varying degrees of shimmer, slightly lighter/darker) — see comparison swatches.

MAC Mineralize Glass ($22.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a new–and permanent!–lip gloss from MAC that heads to counters on March 6th but can be purchased online now. There are twelve shades in total, and this post features four that I tested. The formula is supposed to be hydrating and glossy, while there’s no real word on coverage, the shades are described as “pearlescent.” They feel like lighter-weight Lipglass with less tackiness, but they’re more of a medium-weight gloss with a moderately tacky texture that’s lightly hydrating and wears between two and four hours (depending on the shade). The applicator is a rounded rectangle and feels smoother than the typical doe foot, and it also has more give and flex, so it seems to apply the gloss more evenly. The color coverage seems to run semi-sheer; noticeable color but not fully opaque. I’m not keen on the packaging, as it is bulky and doesn’t store efficiently.

MAC Be Nice Mineralize Glass ($22.00 for 0.20 fl. oz.) is a new–and permanent!–lip gloss from MAC that heads to counters on March 6th but can be purchased online now. There are twelve shades in total, and this post features four that I tested. The formula is supposed to be hydrating and glossy, while there’s no real word on coverage, the shades are described as “pearlescent.” They feel like lighter-weight Lipglass with less tackiness, but they’re more of a medium-weight gloss with a moderately tacky texture that’s lightly hydrating and wears between two and four hours (depending on the shade). The applicator is a rounded rectangle and feels smoother than the typical doe foot, and it also has more give and flex, so it seems to apply the gloss more evenly. The color coverage seems to run semi-sheer; noticeable color but not fully opaque. I’m not keen on the packaging, as it is bulky and doesn’t store efficiently.

Urban Decay Native Naked Flushed Palette ($30.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a new trio that features a bronzer, highlighter, and blush. It is a follow up to Naked Flushed. This one seems to [attempt to] match the blush to the colors of Native Lipstick and Native Lip Pencil, which are both light-medium pinks. I don’t think it’s a great match for either the lipstick or pencil, as it is distinctly cool-toned, whereas the lipstick is warm-toned and the pencil more neutral-to-warm-toned. To me, the color is a better match for Obsessed Lipstick. I didn’t like the original Naked Flushed palette, as I felt like the texture was firm and drier, but I didn’t love this one either, as it was powdery–makes me feel a bit like Goldilocks. Though you’ll see excess powder as you grab product onto your applicator, it doesn’t seem to look powdery on the skin, so that’s definitely a plus. It’s not ideal to have so much excess sitting on the surface of the pan when there are three shades that sit next to each other. The highlighter emphasizes pores/skin texture, which is a drawback. If used lightly, that effect can be lessened, but some care is required–it’s not foolproof.

Highlighter is described as a “pale pink shimmer.” It is a light, pink-tinged peach with light, warm undertones and a champagne shimmer-sheen. The finish is fairly frosted, and the pigmentation was really true-to-pan and rich, so a little of the highlighter goes a long way! I thought it applied best with feathery, sweeping motions and a less dense brush onto the high planes of the face. It did emphasize pores slightly, and it wore well for seven and a half hours before starting to look patchy. NARS Devotee (LE, $29.00) is very similar. MAC Sparkling Rose (LE) is darker, warmer. Urban Decay Glint (LE) is darker. Urban Decay Naked (P, $29.00) is lighter, more sparkly. Lancome Moonlight Rose (LE, $42.00) is pinker, cooler-toned. See comparison swatches.

Blush is described as a “bright pink.” It’s a brightened, light-medium pink with cool, blue undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture was soft and finely-milled but powdery, so the color was somewhat buildable but easily sheered out as it was applied so I wouldn’t describe it as richly pigmented. This shade didn’t adhere as well to bare, normal-to-dry skin, but if you typically wear a liquid or cream foundation and apply over that, it should apply more readily. It wore well for seven hours on me before fading. NARS New Attitude (LE, $29.00) is warmer, darker. Milani Delizioso Pink (10) (P, $7.99) is darker. Givenchy It-Girl Purple (P, $44.00) is more shimmery, lighter. NARS Mistinguette (LE, $29.00) is lighter. Urban Decay Quickie (LE) is darker, brighter. theBalm Argyle (P, $22.00) is warmer. theBalm Down Boy (P, $21.00) is similar. MAC Peony Petal (LE, $21.00) is darker, cooler-toned. MAC I’m the One (LE, $21.00) is darker, cooler-toned. See comparison swatches.

A word about names: there have been a few more recently released products with names that have stirred readers’ feelings. I want to reiterate that discussion is encouraged on Temptalia, and it is good to have open, honest, and civil conversations about things that are important to each of us. Please take great care in appreciating the diversity in opinions within the community without invalidating the other person’s feelings. While a name may not bother one person or someone interprets it differently than someone else, just because one person is not offended doesn’t mean that someone else shouldn’t be or can’t feel the way that they do. There are a million names to choose from, so if and when brands choose one over another, it’s okay to question that choice. You can read why the name of this product hasn’t been well-received by some readers here.